From The Peopling of New York City

What is your name, occupation, place of residence/study, and ethnicity?

My name is Nikhal Ranu. I was born in America, but my parents are from the Punjab region of India. I’m a senior at Forest Hills High School in Queens, and passionate about DJing Indian Bhangra music. I live in Elmhurst, Queens, just a couple blocks away from the SAYA site. I am currently a SAYA intern.

How do you define or label yourself (in terms of nationality)?

I’m Indian. But that is not to say that I’m not loyal to America as well. It’s a dual-citizenship kind of deal. Yea, I was born here. But my background is 100% Indian.

Where do you DJ and party?

I really don’t DJ as a job, more as a hobby or passion. I love to let my music play at parties, though. It’s awesome to get audience feedback. In terms of partying, I attend a lot of school and organization based dance parties. There was a street fair in Jackson Heights recently, and I got to play some tracks. There’s something about Bhangra music that simply makes you want to dance. It was a fun time.

How important is music among you and your peers? And among South Asians in general?

I consider music a connection between all barriers. At this last street fair, for example, there were not only Indian people there. There were white, black, and Hispanic people… all dancing. Even if they don’t know what they are doing, they put their hands up in the air and start dancing to bhangra. It really brings a connection, and a fun one especially.

What are the typical topics of popular contemporary Indian songs?

A lot of songs I come across center around drinking and partying. There are also a lot of songs that focus on the idea of rising in class and rank. Urbanizing is another big topic.

Do you feel that there is a lot of “Desi pride” shown in this music?

Oh yes, definitely. There are plenty of songs that send the message of South Asians being ‘the best’. But we never put down other countries.

What is you opinion on the fusion of bhangra, hip-hop, and rap music?

Fusion music is definitely growing. Personally, I think it got so popular because of Jay-Z and his collaboration with the British Indian Musician Punjabi MC. They made the song “Beware of the Boys,” and it became a hit across Europe and the United States.

Do you ever feel that current Indian artists are being overly reflective of Hip-hop or rap artists and their portrayed lifestyle?

Some of the latest popular Indian music videos look exactly like those I see on American MTV. Take Jazzy B, for example. He is an internationally-recognized Punjabi bhangra artist that is definitely into the whole urbanization trend. In one of his videos, he’s in a stretch hummer, dressed in Burberry, surrounded by beautifully seductive girls. There are more and more of those types of videos being made. They don’t hold back. I like that.

How often do your spend time in Jackson Heights?

I live in walking distance to Jackson Heights, but I only really go there if I want something good to eat. My dad is in Jackson Heights every day though. He hangs out there with his friends. There aren’t many things for teenagers in Jackson Heights. You can always go shopping or walk around the streets, but I consider it a more traditional area.

Does your taste in music differ from your parent’s taste in music?

Oh defiantly. My parents always complain that I listen to “drinking songs”, but to be honest, that’s all the popular artists sing now. They never actively stop me from listening to songs they consider inappropriate, but I do get reminded often.

How would you define your taste in music?

I used to only listen to rap and hip-hop, but after I came back from my trip to India, all I could listen to is Indian music. There is classical Indian music that is crazy.

So where do you get most of your exposure to classical Indian music from?

During family parties, there are always songs that the elders really get into. Those tend to be the best classical Indian tunes. You can simply ask the DJ for the artist, and use the internet to go from there.

Are you a fan of Bollywood productions? Do you appreciate the song sequences?

Not really, I feel that the most popular Bollywood movies are simply becoming pictures in which women prance around in bikinis. I feel those song sequences are too happy and unrealistic. They’re always running though a sunny field or something. Most of the time, I fast forward past the songs.

Would you say that this female display of promiscuity is allowed or accepted?

Female promiscuity in films is definitely allowed, but it’s looked down upon. I often hear people comment, “Why would some one do that on screen? That women you’re watching is someone’s daughter, mother, or sister”.

Do you feel any pressure from your family to upkeep traditions or stay conventional in terms of Indian customs, rules, and religion?

I keep my own tradition. I don’t let my religion or culture down. I represent who I am. If someone talks about my background ignorantly, I don’t hesitate to respond back.

What religion are you?

I am half Hindu and half Sikh. I practice both. But sometimes I feel that Hinduism is…not fake precisely, but that it contains a lot of contradictions. Its polytheistic and there are loads of gods. But in Sikhism, there is one god and different gurus, who earn followers and believers. I go to both temples. Religious practice should be an open and accepting concept, its all about personal faith after all.

Do you find yourself hanging out with other Indians mostly?

My friends are predominantly Indian. That’s ‘cause I could speak to them in my own tongue. It just makes things more comfortable. We share the same background, the same morals, its easier to understand the things going on in fellow Desi’s life. Sometimes, you get picked on for who you are. I think that generation has pretty much passed now, but having other Indian friends makes that sort of thing a lot more bearable.

You are a part of the ARISE program where youth assess needs and issues facing the community and develop strategies to address them. Can you tell me about your past and current projects?

We actually do a lot of workshops on a number of topics concerning the members. At the end, we pick a topic, and collaborate on how we want to spread its awareness. This year we’re focusing on child soldiers. Last year our topic was sex trafficking.

How do the members of ARISE go about making a change and informing people about your chosen issue?

First, we gather our information. Then, we hit the streets to talk to people and sell tickets for the culminating showcase. The money we make is not towards personal profit. It gets collected in a donation fund and sent to a charity supporting our cause.

Is joining SAYA mostly an effort made by parents, or the students themselves?

It honestly depends. I grew up in this neighborhood, and knew many members, so SAYA became a place for me to meet with friends outside the school setting. I started coming for basketball at first. Then, I got into the academic program and spent some time as a volunteer. Now, I’m an intern at SAYA, and part of the ARISE program. There’s really a lot of room to grow.

What do you do as an intern?

I’m helping Sasha and Mun (the head of academics) with the Academics program. I do a whole bunch of SAT scoring.

As part of SAYA, do you feel more comfortable being around people of the same background?

It is not even that we share the same background. We have all sorts of backgrounds: Indian, Arabic, Black, Hispanic, Asian. We get to know these people, and become comfortable sharing our views with them. SAYA makes it easier for low-income immigrant youth to deal with the real-world difficulties that they face.

Does SAYA organize activities that celebrate South Asian culture?

When it comes to celebrating my culture, I can’t think of a better way than a Bhangra dance party. SAYA holds dance parties throughout the year. Since Bhangra dance started many years ago in India, as a harvest season dance to attract good crops, SAYA makes sure to throw a Spring Bhangra dance party. There’s so much energy that goes into a dance like that, that it’s hard not to have fun.

What would you call the most defining facet of the South Asian identity you and your friends share?

I would say the most defining thing is the culture that we all try to uphold. Although its easy to forget about where you came from, I feel that Desis are less susceptible to that sort of thing. Personally, I try to go to temple every weekend, despite my schoolwork and job. I also try to celebrate all the big holidays with my family. Its just something you want to be able to pass down to your kids. Like my brother, for example, even though he’s older, he can’t speak Punjabi, while I can speak it fluently. Now I can teach my own kids to speak the language, something they’ll thanks me for in the future.